Automatic cut-off valve.



J. MILLER.

AUTOMATIC CUT-OFF VALVE.

v urmonxox FILED sum: 12, 1909.

Patented Dec. 14, 1909 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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I A Q gwumkm I Jams/flaw? flew J. MILLER.

AUTOMATIC GUT-0H VALVE. APPLIOATIOK FILED JUNE 12, 1909.

Patented Dec. 14,1909,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W W M JULIUS MILLER, 0F YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

AUTOMATIC CUT-OFF VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, 19029.

Application filed .Tune 12, 1909. Serial No. 501,815.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JULIUs MILLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Youngstown, in the county of Mahoning and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Cut-OffValves, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is to provide novel means of asimple character for automatically cutting off the supply of gas orother fluid when the pressure therein is decreased from any cause, belowa predetermined point, said means insuring a complete closing of thevalve and positively looking it against accidental reopening from anycause.

The preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of thestructure. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view therethrough. Fig. 3 is aview similar to Fig. 2, but showing the position of the elements whenthe valve is closed. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on the line 4-4of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view showing a slightly modifiedform of diaphragm.

Similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

In the embodiment disclosed in Figs. 13 inclusive, a portion of a supplyconduit is shown at 5, and is provided with a valve seat 6. Surroundingthe upper end of the seat, and projecting therefrom, is a neck 7, whichcommunicates with the interior of a pressure chamber 8 having adetachable cap 9. A reciprocatory valve 10 moves into and out ofengagement with the valve seat, transversely of the conduit, and hasconnected thereto, a valve stem 11 that passes through the pressurechamber, and projects above the same. A diaphragm 12, located in thepressure chamber, is connected with the stem by a pair of clamp nuts 13threaded on to said stem on opposite sides of the diaphragm. WVith thisstructure, it will be evident that if the valve is raised or unseated,and there is pressure in the conduit,

vthe fluid acting against the under side of the diaphragm 12 willmaintain the same in elevated position, and thus hold the valve open. Ifsaid pressure from any cause becomes decreased, the valve may then bepermitted to drop to its seated position, and thus cut off the passageof gas or other fluid through the conduit. For the purpose of effectingthe closing movement of the valve, the following mechanism is preferablyemployed. Secured to the cap 9 of the pressure chamber and projectingabove the same on opposite sides of the valve stem 11 are guide rods orstandards 14 connected at their upper ends by a cross head 15. A slideblock 16 is mounted to reciprocate on the guide rods 14, and isconnected to the stem 11 by set screws 17, which set screws alsoconstitute the pivotal connection with said slide block of a yoke 18that embraces the slide block. This yoke is pivoted at one end to astandard 19 mounted on the conduit, and to its other end is fixed an arm20, on which is adjustably mounted a motor weight 21. lVith thisstructure, thus far described, it will be evident that while asufficient pressure in the chamber 8 will hold the valve raised, if thispressure decreases below a predetermined point, the weighted arm willact to close the valve, and the said predetermined point can be variedby shifting the weight 21 along the arm 20.

For the purpose of insuring the tight seating of the valve, a hammerhead 22 is slidably mounted on the standards 14 above the valve stem 11,and is arranged to drop upon the upper end of said stem. Normally thishammer head is held in elevated position by a latch 23 pivoted upon oneof the standards 14 and having a terminal hook 24 that detachablyengages an overhanging shoulder or hook upon the hammer head. This latchalso has a depending actuating arm 26 provided with an inturned terminal27 disposed alongside the adjacent standard 14. The slide block 16 hasone end beveled, as shown at 28, and the said inturned end 27 isarranged to ride against this inclined face, and also to engage over thetop of the slide block, as disclosed in Fig. 3.

The operation of the structure is substantially as follows. Under normalconditions, the valve is elevated, the latch hook 24 is engaged beneaththe hook 25, and the inturned end 27 of the actuating arm is against thebeveled face of the slide block. valve is open, it will be evident thatfluid may flow freely through the conduit. Should, however, this fluidbe cut off, or the pressure decreased below a certain point, theweighted arm 18 will drop, eifecting the downward movement of the valve,and as it reaches its closed position, the inclined face of the slideblock 16 will cause the arm 26 of the latch to move outwardlysufliciently to disengage said latch from the hammer head, and said headwill drop upon the stem 11, insuring a tight seating of the valve. Atthe same time, the slide block will move below the lower inturned end ofthe actuating arm 26, and said end will engage over the top of theblock, positively locking said valve in its closed position.

Instead of the form of diaphragm shown in Figs. 2 and 3, that disclosedin Fig. 5 may be employed, in which a bellows struc ture 12 is providedthat is connected to the valve stem, the other parts being the same asthose already described, except that the said bellows 12 is preferablyhoused in a casing 12 From the foregoing, it is thought that theconstruction, operation and many advantages of the herein describedinvention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without furtherdescription, and it will be understood that various changes in the size,shape, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantagesof the invention.

hat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In mechanism of the character set forth, the combination with aconduit, of a reciprocatory controlling valve therein, a pressurechamber, a diaphragm in the pressure chamber, a valve stem connected tothe diaphragm and projecting from the pressure chamber, guides carriedby the pressure chamber, a pivotally supported arm, a weight adjustablymounted on the arm, a slide block pivotally connected to the arm andconnected to the valve stem, and a latch pivoted on one of the guidesand engaging over the slide block when the valve is in its closedposition.

2. In mechanism of the character set forth, the combination with avalve, of a swinging arm for moving the same to closed position, areciprocatory device connected to the arm and to the valve, an auxiliaryhammer that strikes the reciprocatory device to seat the valve, and alatch normally holding the hammer against movement and automaticallyoperated by the reciprocatory device.

3. In mechanism of the character set forth,

When the the combination with a conduit, of a con trollingvalve therein,a pressure chamber, a valve stem connected to the valve and projectingfrom the pressure chamber, a diaphragm, located in the pressure chamberand connected to the valve stem, guides located on opposite sides of theprojecting portion of the valve stem, a slide block connected to thevalve stem and operating on the guides, a pivotally mounted weighted armconnected to the slide block, a hammer slidably mounted on the guidesand arranged to strike the valve stem, and a latch pivoted on one of theguides and detachably engaging the hammer, said latch having anactuating arm disposed in the path of movement of the slide block.

a. In mechanism of the character set forth, the combination with avalve, of means for automatically closing the same, an auxiliary devicefor tightly seating the valve, and common means for automaticallyefiecting the operation of the auxiliary device to seat the valve andlocking the valve in seated position.

In mechanism of the character set forth, the combination with a valve,of automatic closing means therefor, a hammer for tightly seating thevalve, and automatic means for releasing the hammer when the valve isclosed, said means also constituting a lock for holding the *alve inclosed position.

(3. In mechanism of the character set forth, the combination with avalve, of means for automatically closing the valve, a hammer fortightly seating the valve after it has been closed, a latch detachablyengaging the hammer to hold it against operation, and means operated bythe closing movement for actuating the latch to release the hammer, saidmeans also constituting a device for positively locking the valve inclosed position.

7. In mechanism of the character set forth, the combination with aconduit, of a controlling valve therein, a pressure chambercommunicating with the conduit, a valve stem connected to the valve andprojecting from the pressure chamber, a diaphragm located in thepressure chamber and connected to the valve stem, guide rods arranged onthe opposite sides of the projecting portion of the valve stem, a slideblock mounted on the guide rods and having an inclined face, a weightedarm pivotally connected to the guide block, a hammer slidably mounted onthe guide rods above the stem, a latch pivoted on one of the guide rodsand detachably engaging the hammer, and an actuating arm for the latchhaving a portion that rides against the inclined face of the slide blockto actuate the latch and release the hammer,

said portion also engaging over the slide block to hold the valve inclosed position.

8. In mechanism of the character set forth,

the combination with a valve, of means for hammer and afterward taking aposition to closing the same, a hammer for seating the hold the valveagainst opening. 10 valve, holding means for normally maintain- Intestimony whereof I hereunto afiix my ing the hammer against movement,and acsignature in the presence of two witnesses. tuating means for thehammer automatically JULIUS MILLER. operating to release the same whenthe Valve \Vitnesses:

moves to closed position, said actuating WM. W. ZIMMERMAN,

means being first operated to release the T. A. JAooBs.

